DARLIN'

               Rachael can’t help but look at his hair as he spoke, cracking a grin as her eyes crinkled. “I’m guessing you throw quite the fit when you’re having a bad hair day. Not a fan of the ‘cap’ or ‘beanie’?”

        “If you ever see me with a cap or beanie on, presume I’ve hit rock bottom,” he retorts, amusement present in the crinkle of his eyes and the hollows of his dimples. “Off your shift for once, officer?” 

Bella hated their family dinners just as much as Gus did. But for a sort of different reason. For Bella, sitting at the same table as her father, the man who she had looked up to and even adored, for most of her life and yet who had disappointed and betrayed her trust like he had was downright painful. Watching everyone act like nothing had happened and pretend to be the perfect family even when no one else was watching made the youngest Walker feel like this wasn’t even her family. She sucked in the first drag of her cigarette after she lit it as if she needed the nicotine to prepare herself for the misery they were about to endure. 

She rolled her eyes at her brother’s vanity, however unable to stop the grin that followed as she nudged him back. “I am loyal, but somebody’s gotta keep it real with you, dude. As beautiful as your locks are,” she teased, tussling his hair playfully, “Jamie’s hair is just at an unattainable level. I blame genetics. Mom and Dad were not good to us, bro. Plus, Pantene is like the worst thing ever for your hair. Haven’t you seen the videos going around of women having to scrape the wax off their hair from using that stuff?”

       For Augustus, hating his father came effortlessly. After all, their strained relationship over the years only heightened once he found out about his affair. Gus has spent years trying to please his father, only when it came to high school he changed. Rebelling seemed easy, effortless, and it sure got a rise out of the main who placed weighted expectations upon their family to appear perfect in every sense of the word. It was his form of escape. And yet now that he found out his father wasn’t as ‘perfect’ as he claimed to be, Gus couldn’t decide whether he was relieved or infuriated or both. 

       “Ouch, why must you always be so honest? My ego is bruised,” Augustus states between puffs, cigarettes and Arabella seemingly the only things to calm him before meet ups with the plastic first family of Southport. “Mum and dad were not good to us in multiple ways. For example, mom spending all of her time in the office whilst dad shaped us into perfect little humans that could do no wrong whilst he fucked the maid.. but you know.” He didn’t know when the conversation had turned sour for him, but it most certainly had for both of them now that he’d addressed the ordeal for the first time ever. He was bound to explode, and yet he felt instant regret. “Wait, pantene really causes your hair to be waxy?! I knew it! That hot little bastard!"

“First of all, I’m insulted you would doubt me like this. Second, can it still be called ropin’ you if you don’t put up a fight?” His willingness to run with whatever she asked never went unnoticed. It only went without being read into…for the most part. “Trust me. You don’t have to worry your pretty little mind.” Leaning in closer to his ear, she teases with a whisper, “As long as you make it quick so we can run for it.”

       “Technically it can.. haven’t you ever heard of peer pressure?” Narrowing his eyes, Augustus stops, turning toward the brunette with sheer curiousity and wonder. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with the law enforcement that day. Instead he takes out his cigarette and leans against the wall, eyes focused on the lighter in his hands. “Ordinarily I’d do something stupid like help you steal a bike, but then I got to thinking — what’s in it for me?”

        Every time Augustus Walker mentioned being the mayor’s son an angel lost it’s wing, Jamie was pretty sure of it but then again as a self-proclaimed sinner he didn’t particular mind. They’d been friends long enough that it no longer felt like bragging and had simply become apart of the blonde’s mannerisms that Jamie accepted without question. “Students win cases all the time Gus. Honestly, it’s like you’ve never seen Legally Blonde before or something.” Jamie mocked in retaliation a smirk already beginning to tug on the corner of his lips. “I’d rather you get my ass out of prison not your mom but beggars can’t be choosers. Maybe I should start getting on her good side now.” Ignoring the buzzing of his phone for the time being Jamie shifted his attention toward the sea of people ahead of them at the bar. “Now why would I set up my own friend to fail? What kind of monster do you think I am, Walker? Actually…don’t answer that. Instead how about you use those first son of Southport perks of yours to get us ahead of these people? It’s been like fifteen minutes and my patience is wearing thin.”

       “You’re wrong. Legally Blonde is exactly what inspired me to study law, Jame. I mean hello, I’m blond.. she’s blonde. I like pink, she likes pink. It was meant to be. However, it’s just a work of fiction, Wilde. Students don’t actually win in real life,” he smirks, clearly sarcastic in every sense of the word. “I think she secretly has a soft spot for you knowing that you’re part of the brot3 that is Jamie, Bella and Gus. —Please, like you wouldn’t. I used to have the top spot and now you’ve taken over.. lets just call ourselves lucky that Bella hasn’t surpassed me in the hair game or I’d be real pissed. Did you hear Peter wants to get rid of his hair to make himself look older?!” Rolling his eyes, the ‘first son of Southport’ manoeuvred his way through the crowd without hesitation, running his fingertips through his hair as he ignored the complaints of people around him as he approached the bar. “Hey, hey.. mayor’s son coming through a’ite,” he joked, throwing a stupid grin back at his friend. “Hey, bartender, in all seriousness, if you sort me and my friend here now, all drinks are on me for the rest of the night. For everyone.” 

                “You know what, Gus? Maybe you need to shave your head too. It’s not so good to get all wrapped up in tying in your identity to your hair,” he teases, knowing very well how his blonde friend finds the locks on his head more important than the shit he puts in his body. “You want a chick that’s just with you for the gel and mousse? My hairs just long cus I’m fucking lazy.” Not exactly true. Yes, he was lazy. He was sort of known for his locks and hardly got any shit for it, but If Pete was being honest, his mother remembers him well with short hair. Anything he could do to separate himself from her, like growing his mane, he’d do. 

         “That is the single most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard come out of your mouth, and trust me, you say a lot of ridiculous things. Me?! Cut my hair?!” Augustus scoffs, running his fingers through his hair almost defensively and worriedly, as though it might just disappear at the mere thought of cutting his hair. “I don’t ever want to hear that nonsense again. And secondly, not just for the gel and mousse, bro. For your looks.. you really think cutting your hair is going to make you look older? Own your do, Peter.” 

starter for @augustuswalker​

“Got a light?” Bella asked as she plopped down on the step beside her twin. The youngest Walker siblings had long ago began a tradition of meeting up before their, what had recently become dreaded, family dinners. Needed to get as much smoking in before dealing with their parents as possible, after all. This Tuesday was no different. As she waited for her brother to hand over his lighter, she turned a critical gaze to him. “Okay, but serious question. When are you going to cut your hair?” she asked reaching up to tug on his man bun. “It’s going to be longer than mine, pretty soon. And besides, we both know there can be only one hair model in this town, and Jamie’s got that on lock.” she added, teasing as she threw fan to the flame, knowing full well about her brother’s hair rivalry with their friend. 

        How was it that their mom was still able to sit across from the very man who betrayed her, who betrayed all of them, every single Tuesday night without batting an eye?! It was beyond him, and the ordeal sparked the very rebellious within him that fought against every expectation and ‘show’ for the public. The Walker family had grown accustomed to putting a face on for the camera but, this was damn stupid, and he was glad his twin sister agreed wholeheartedly. He hands over his lighter, inhaling the cigarette between his fingertips like it was much-needed oxygen. “That can’t be a serious question. I’ve spent years growing this perfection,” Gus states, nudging her side with a smirk. The inevitably and perpetually jealous Augustus rolls his eyes, however, at mention of Jamie, who's hair he envied and dreamt about often. “You’re supposed to be on my side, sis! What happened to family loyalty? —I think Jamie’s been deceiving me.. I mean, Pantene, really? I bet you he’s using some secret, homemade recipe to make that thing shine whilst he makes mine all flat and tattered. God, he’s smart.” 

        “Maybe so but if I sock some pre-teen in the face for singing it too loudly on the boardwalk then we’ll both suffer. I’ll probably spend a night or two in county jail and you’ll be known as the lawyer who got a child abuser of scot-free.” If Jamie was going down he wasn’t above taking his friends down with him. After all, sharing is caring right? Surely that saying was valid even in times of distress. “That’s not a joke, Gus. It’s cosmic justice,” Jamie countered quickly gesturing vaguely to the air above them as he spoke. “You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth and I was born with a plastic one. Clearly the gods figured I needed something in my favor so they spent a little extra time on my hair and gave you….well….that sad heap. I mean honestly, are you even using the bottle of Pantene I gave you?”

       “As smart and intelligent as I am, and as grateful as I am to hear that, you probably wouldn’t want a student lawyer getting your ass out of jail. Although, I could pull a few strings being the mayor’s son.. yeah—don’t worry, Wilde. I’ve got your ass covered.” Augustus was far too cocky for his own good, and it often landed him in trouble. Luckily enough, he had a good group of friends to keep him in check. A scoff escaped his lips, followed by a chuckle as he shook his head — it truly did bother him that he didn’t have the best locks in the group. But what could he do? He tried. “I think you’re setting me up to fail with that Pantene because you know I’d blow you out the water. Anyway, we can’t all be perfect.. I mean there’s only so many good looking people."

“I’ve got a million dollar idea, and it’s all yours…” With a quick snap of her fingers, Amelie points to the source of her current distress–one off-white hybrid bike chained two feet from where they stood.  “If you can help me pick the lock on that bike.” Flashing a wide smile, Amelie all but crossed her finger behind her back.

        “What’s the catch? Is there actually a million dollar idea or are you just roping me in as always, Mejia?” Truth be told, he’d do anything for Amelie without even batting an eye. Taking out his pocket knife, Augustus didn’t hesitate to start unpicking the lock. Idiot. “Should I be worried here?"

           “Oh, man,” Rachael huffed, taking a seat as soon as she closed her umbrella, shutting the door behind her. “Insane weather, huh? It was all sunny yesterday, now it’s raining cats and dogs. I guess that’s global warming for you.”

       “Tell me about it,” he pulls himself off of the back of the seat, leaning forward to take yet another sip of his double shot coffee. Gus wasn’t even remotely surprised that the girl from the mall managed to slide her way into his booth. Or maybe he was a little, but he was more than fine with playing along. “My hair can’t handle it. It starts to go all frizzy.. out of character. It just won’t do.” 

       “Okay, serious question. Should I cut my hair?” he turns, nothing short of serious plastered all over his face. “Cus like, I’m tired of getting carded and getting pulled over. These old dudes keep thinking I’m like, fucking seventeen –when I’m pretty sure I’ve gone to their rooms at the nursing home to make sure they’re still fucking breathing.”

        Augustus pulled the dart from his lips, features contorted into a look mixed with shock and something like disgust. “Pete, listen.. your hair is who you are. Girls dig that shit, trust me. You get rid of that and you lose ninety per cent of your attractiveness,” coming from the very person who treated hair better than he did most people. Nobody could touch that perfectly sculpted man bun. “Maybe you should grow a beard instead.”

        “Not to sound like a little bitch…” Jamie begin suddenly knowing fully well that he was about to sound like a little bitch. “but if I hear one more person singing Old Town Road or see another person use it as an Instagram caption to be quirky or cool I’m literally going to fucking lose my shit.” The novelty of the song had worn off about two week ago and Jamie was over it being shoved down his throat everywhere he turned. There was no running from it. He heard on the radio, he saw it being referenced all over social media, hell he even heard it in his sleep. The madness needed to end. “It’s a joke of a song….literally. People know that right?”

         Instantly, Gus can just feel the desire to post a photo of Jamie to his insta story with Old Town Road attached, the hit playing in the background as his hair idol complains. “You sound like a little bitch,” the blond comments, though he wasn’t particularly a huge fan of the song himself. He just liked to annoy the hell out of everyone around him and tease them ‘til the days end. “You know what’s a joke, Jame? The fact that your hair looks better than mine today. What’d you do to it?”